MARTIN, Tenn.- In the regular season finale, the University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team secured their fourth conference shutout in a 0-0 draw against Southeast Missouri.
UT Martin outshot the Redhawks eight to four with a game-high five shots targeted on goal. Makayla Robinson led the Skyhawks with five attempts (three shots on goal) while Peyton Cook (one shot on goal), Rachel Okoro (one shot on goal) and Abbie McHenry (one shot) added pressure to the defense of SEMO.
Sophomore Poppy Bastock recorded her 10th career shutout behind three saves and received tremendous work from her back line that held SEMO to four shots. Bastock played the full match along with Catey Hunt (16th 90-minute performance this season), Izzy Patterson (10th), Joelle Stinson (eighth), Shayla Addington (15th), Brooke Kala (third), Gwen Walters (13th) and Allie Buchmann (13th).
The Skyhawks peppered the Redhawk defense with five shots in the first half and the back line from UT Martin held SEMO to one shot during the first 45 minutes. In the second half both sides were faced with stout defense, combining for just six shots after the break.
“It’s always a tough task to play a team on the road on senior day but I thought we played with a lot of energy,” said Skyhawk head coach Mike Varga. “We created chances and we defended very well as a team. We’re heading into the conference tournament with a lot of confidence and looking forward to next week as we prepare for the first round.”
The defensive slugfest helped UT Martin achieve the number five seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament which will begin on Friday with UT Martin squaring off with the eighth-seeded Little Rock Trojans in Evansville, Ind. The time for Friday’s match is to be announced.
